The astonishing £24m deal for Arsenal’s talisman is a statement of intent like no other by United’s manager, says Oliver Kay

It is 96 days since the full-time whistle blew at the Stadium of Light and
Manchester United’s players, with the Barclays Premier League trophy
seemingly retained, made the first cautious steps on what they expected to
go from a post-match walkabout into, very quickly, an exuberant lap of
honour.

The Sky Sports cameras panned to the crowd, where United’s supporters were
dancing and chanting in readiness for the moment, it seemed just seconds
away, when they could celebrate perhaps the most satisfying of title
triumphs. And then a middle-aged fan, his ear glued to the radio, turned
ashen, his eyes